Used Vauxhall VXR8 review and buying guide (2007 to 2018): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Vauxhall VXR8 should you buy?

The 6.2-litre LS3 VXR8 is the one to go for, because it's quicker in the gears than the 6.0-litre LS2 car it replaced while using the same fuel. Underneath, it's still a rear-drive Holden saloon built in Australia and sold here with right-hand drive and a Vauxhall badge, and both engines came with a manual or an automatic gearbox.

If you want an automatic, an LS3 car makes even more sense, since that update made a transmission oil cooler standard on the auto. Don't expect any VXR8 to be frugal, though: it's a heavy car that drinks fuel and the road tax is steep, so budget for that before you fall for one.

The later, restyled VXR8 is the newest way in. It kept the 6.2-litre V8 and a mechanical limited-slip differential but added Magnetic Ride Control, which reads the road and adjusts the dampers constantly, plus a fresh cabin. It's the pick if you want the most up-to-date chassis and don't mind that it was only sold new through six specialist VXR dealers.

The Bathurst Edition and supercharged Bathurst S sit at the top of the range in limited numbers. Both had their brakes and suspension uprated, with stiffer springs and coil-over dampers you can set at each corner, which tightens up the body control and makes the handling easier to exploit, so they're the ones for keen drivers who'll use that hardware.

Which VXR8 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 6.2-litre LS3 V8 is the better engine, because it's stronger in the gears than the original 6.0-litre LS2 with no rise in fuel use or emissions. Its gains come from freer-flowing heads, redesigned pistons and a better valvetrain, and whichever engine you pick, every VXR8 sends its power to the rear wheels, so that's not a choice you'll need to make.

Neither gearbox is perfect, and it's worth driving both. The six-speed manual, shared with the Corvette and Monaro, is slow to change gear, while the automatic can feel slow to react when you're powering out of a bend. The auto has a sport setting and manual override, and on LS3 cars it's got a transmission oil cooler as standard.

There are two supercharged versions: the VXR8 Supercharged, announced in December 2008, and the Bathurst S. On the Bathurst S, the supercharger package also brings a bigger intercooler, higher-flow injectors and its own cold air intake. Its torque arrives very low down, the pull doesn't tail off as you near the redline, and it was set up to stay easy to drive rather than chase the biggest figures.

What should you check when viewing a used VXR8?

The gearbox is where to focus on the test drive, since the manual's slow change and the auto's hesitation out of corners are part of the car even when it's healthy. Learn how a good one feels, then make sure every gear engages cleanly and the auto doesn't hang on to gears or thump between them.

On a car sold as a Bathurst or Bathurst S, check it's the real thing: there's a console badge with the build number, special tread plates in each door opening, a graphics pack and fog light covers, and the S wears a small extra badge. Its coil-over dampers have 15 settings at each corner, so ask how they're set and whether anyone's changed them.

Switch the stability and traction control off and back on to confirm both respond. If the car has the optional Bi-Modal exhaust, try the quiet Street setting and the loud Optimum one. Ask for the full service history, since only 34 Vauxhall outlets were authorised to maintain the later model.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Vauxhall VXR8 cost to run?

What do VXR8 owners like about them?

It's a properly practical four-door saloon that just happens to be very fast. There's plenty of room inside, the boot's a generous size and the seats stay comfortable over a long trip, so the speed doesn't cost you the everyday usefulness of a big saloon.

It drives better than its size suggests, with rapid acceleration and handling that surprises anyone expecting a big, clumsy V8. The ride's good too, and it settles into a relaxed, unstressed cruise on the motorway, so long journeys don't wear you out the way you'd expect from something this quick.

• The Vauxhall VXR8 features revised styling, a new cabin, and updated technology, enhancing its appeal as a powerful rear-wheel-drive V8 saloon.
• The VXR Bathurst S, with a Walkinshaw Performance 122 Supercharger, delivers 560 V8 horsepower for searing acceleration and a thrilling engine sound.
• A new 6.2 litre V8 engine, known as LS3, offers improved in-gear performance with 431PS, and an automatic transmission oil cooler is standard.
• This model offers exceptional power output for its price point, surpassing competitors in its segment.
• The car provides rapid acceleration and surprisingly dynamic handling characteristics for an engaging driving experience.